Flashlight switch



NOV- 6, 1956 R. B. LAMBERT FLASHLIGHT SWITCH Filed Jan. '7, 1953 Z Z3 11a ,j FIG. I.

J9 J1 24 [16.2. if@ 2f JZ Z9 J0 lli FIGB.

IN V EN TOR. @El/EEN 5. 4W/5F27' United States Patent O FLASHLIGHT SWITCH Reuben B. Lambert, New Haven, Conn. Application January 7, 1953, Serial No. 329,967

8 Claims. (Cl. 24U-10.6)

This invention relates to flashlights, and more particularly to an improved switch mechanism for the same.

The objects of the invention are to provide a device of the above nature which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install and manipulate, compact, ornamental in appearance, and very etlicient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, there has been illustrated on the accompanying drawing, one form in which the invention may conveniently be embodied in practice.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 represents a side View of the assembled ashlight.

Fig. 2 is a side view, on an enlarged scale and partly in section, showing the construction of the switch and its locking mechanism, in oil position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the switch and locking member in flash position.

Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view of the same, with the switch and locking member in on position.

Fig. 5 is a side view, on a much smaller scale, of the flashlight head, showing the ears for attaching the contact spring to the intermediate section of the head, and the aperture through which said contact extends.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the opposite side of the head, showing the aperturewfor the locking spring which positively holds the slide ring selectively in its three operating positions.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the ilashlight head, showing the ears for attaching the contact spring to the intermediate section of the head.

Referring now to the drawing in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the improved flashlight includes an enlarged circular head 10 and a rear cup-shaped casing 11. The head 10 has an intermediate section 11a and a reduced slightly tapered rear end 11b integral therewith.

Within the head 10 of the flashlight, provision is made of a parabolic reflector 12 and a bulb 13, detachably mounted in a rear screw shell 14 secured to said reflector 12.

Provision is also made of an elongated longitudinal metallic spring strip 15, the forward end of which is curved inwardly and adapted to lie in resilient electrical engagement with the rear convex surface of the reflector 12, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The spring strip 15 is covered along the rear portion of its length with a libre insulation coating 16, and is attached rigidly to the intermediate section 11a by ears 17, 18. It is also provided with an outwardly convex uncovered hook contact section 19 which is adapted to extend outwardly through a rectangular aperture 20 of the intermediate section 11a.

Embracing the intermediate section 11a is a switchoperating slide ring 21 provided with a pair of cylindrical end sections 22, 23 which lit over the cylindrical ends of ice the intermediate section 11a of the head 10. The slide ring 21 has a central outwardly convex knurled rib 24 which is aligned with the hook contact 19 and is out of contact therewith when the switch is in the ot position shown in Fig. 2.

On either end of the rib 23, the slide ring 21 has a pair of smaller ribs 25 and 26 which are adapted to engage with a locking leaf spring 27 located at the point of the circumference of the intermediate section 11a opposite the contact spring 15.

The locking spring 27 is secured to the intermediate section 11a of the flashlight head 10 by means of a rivet 28 located in a rivet hole 28a and is provided with a pair of outstanding spaced nibs 29, 30 which extend through a rectangular aperture 32 in said section 11a, said nibs being constantly pressed outwardly against the slide ring 21 by the resiliency of said spring 27.

In order to limit the endwise movement of the slide ring 21, provision is made of a stop lug 31 struck up and extending outwardly from the intermediate section 11a of the head 10, adjacent to the aperture 20, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

A pair of dry cells 33 and 34 are located within the rear cup-shaped casing 11 of the flashlight and the rear of the head 10 for furnishing a source of electricity to energize the lamp bulb 13.

Operation ln operation, assuming the slide ring 21 to be in its rearmost otf position, as shown in Fig. 2, when it is desired to place the flashlight in flash condition, it will merely be necessary to push the slide ring 21 forwardly to the position in Fig. 3, where the small rib 25 will be closely adjacent the hook contact 19 of the spring 15. With the parts in this position, a slight movement of the slide ring forwardly will flash on the light, and vice versa.

When it is desired to place the flashlight in fully on condition, the slide ring 21 will be pushed forwardly into the position shown in Fig. 4, at which time the rear rib 25 will be in full electrical engagement with the hook contact 19, and the opposite side of said rib 25 will also engage with the rear nib 29 of the locking spring 27 As will be noticed from an inspection of Fig. 3, when the ilashlight is in flash position, both of the nibs 29 and 30 of the locking spring 27 will engage with the inner ends of both of the small ribs 25 and 26 of the slide rlng.

It will thus be seen that in all three operating positions of the flashlight, the slide ring will be positively held against accidental movement out of such positions.

It will be understood that the rear cup-shaped casing 11 may either be permanently attached to the rear reduced section 11b ofthe head 10 and ilush therewith, as by a press fit, by solder, by cement, by attaching lugs, etc. or that said casing may be detachably secured to the head 10 by a threaded connection, whereby the dry cells may be readily replaced by removing the rear casing 11from said head 10. p

It will also be understood that the slide ring 21 may be constructed from plastic, if desired, and made in any color. The slide ring may also be made of less than 360 degrees extent, within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

An important advantage of this improved ashlight is that the slide ring 21 may be moved lengthwise on the intermediate section 11a of the head 10 into any of its three operating positions to wit: oth flash or on, by engaging the central rib 24 with the finger and thumb of the users hand at any point along the circumference 3 thereof,- thus greatly facilitating the operation of the flashlight.`

A further advantage is that the switch of the improved ashlight may be operated quite easily andwithout frictional binding even with ,gloves on, or when the userfs hands are cold. This is because pressure may be .applied by Ythe `linger and thumbat opposite sides-of the slide ring,Y simultaneously, and also no diiiiculty will be encountered in searching for the switch' button, which formerly was alwaysI located on one side or point of the circumference of theV iiashlight casing and which was designed to be pushed bythe thumb only of the users hand.

In other words, with the present invention, the flashlight switch' is'very easy to operate, asV the slide ring is moved bythe balanced forces applied ,thereto at opposite sides byjthe linger and thumb operating together.v

A-'still further advantage is thatv the slide ring may be twisted around vthe axis of the flash light from time to time, thus greatly-increasing the wearing properties of the flashlight switch mechanism.

While'there has been disclosed in this specification, one form -in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that `this form is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is notlimited to the specific disclosures, but may be modified and embodied in various other Vforms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed ,as new and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent isz.

1. Ina flashlight, a rear cylindrical cup-shaped casing portion, a forward hollow head portion, means connecting said portions together .to form va casing adapted to contain a plurality of dry cellsl a reflector disposed Vat the outer end of the head portion, an elongated longitudinal kmetal strip attached to and insulated from the interior of the head portion and having is forward end engaging said, reector, the, rear of said strip4 having a contactv hook extending through an aperture in the casing, a substantially cylindricalV switch ring slidably fitted over said head section and .having a relatively, large outwardly extending central convex rib, a smaller outwaglly convex ribfat one side of said central rib, a locking spring having an outstanding nib to engage the small rib of said switch ring to hold it in adjusted position longitudinally of the casing, and said contact hook being located withinsaid largeY rib and outof contact therewith in off position but inl electrical contact with said ringV in on position of the ashlight.

2. In a flashlight, a rear cylindrical cup-shaped metallic casing containing a plurality of dry cells, a forward hollow 'electrically conductive head having an enlarged portion `provided with an interior concave reilector and a lamp bulb energized by said cells, said head having an integral rear reduced section, Vsaid .casing being fitted over said reduced section to provide a ush exterior surface for said ashlight, an elongated longitudinal metallic stripY insulatedly attached to the interior of said head with its forward end electrically engaging said reflector, the rear of said strip having a contact hook extending outwardly through an aperture in the rear section of said head, a substantially cylindrical longitudinally-slidable metallic ring titted "over'said Vrear head Vsection in felec'- trical contact therewith and having a relatively large outwardly extending central convex rib, said ring also having a pair of smaller outwardly convex ribs on either side of said central rib, a locking spring secured in said casing and having an outstanding nib to engage the small ribs of said slide ring vand hold it positively and selectvely in flash, off, and on positions, said contact hook being located within said large rib and out of contact with the -wall thereof in off position, being located closely adjacent to the wall of said small rear rib in flash position, and being located in electrical engagement with said small rear rib, in on position.

3. In a flashlight, an elongated hollow metallic casing `containing an electric battery therewithin and having a reflector head at its forward end, a lamp bulb located within said reflector head and engagingsaid battery, a conductor element electrically `connected with said lamp bulb and having a portion projecting outwardly through said casing and insulated therefrom, a separate metallic ring switch member mounted for longitudinal sliding on the exterior of said casing and having an inner surface for electrically engaging said outwardly projecting .portion, means to limit the slidable movement of said switch member with respect to said casing in both directions, said outwardly projecting portion lying within said ring out of `Contact with said switch member in off position, and contacting with said switch member in .on position;

4. The invention as defined in claim-3, in whichlsaid ring vswitch member is cylindrical and has an outwardly projecting convex recessed rib, and in which the outwardly gprojecting portion of said conductor liesV within said rib and is engaged by the inner wall thereof when said ring is moved longitudinally along the casing for operating the switch.

5. The invention asdeined in claim 3, in whichlsaid meansto limit movement'of said switch member in both directions comprises' a spring member mounted on .said casing, landhaving rmeans on said ring to engageV said spring member.

6. -The invention as` defined in claim 3, in which said ring switchmember is also rotatable ,on said casing.Y

7. The invention-as ldened in claim 2, in. whichfsaid strip is provided with an Vinsulating Vcoating on the. rear portion thereof.-

8. The invention as defined in claim 2, in which .said head has an youtwardly `extending stop lug located within said large rib *to* limit "the endwise motions of' said slide ring.

ReferencesCted ini the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great VBritain 1932 

